CITY SECTION BASKETBALL ROUNDUP : Sylmar Closes In on Championship

The Sylmar High boys’ basketball team sensed a chance to move closer to the Mid-Valley League championship and it seized the opportunity in the third quarter of its 88-66 victory over host Canoga Park on Tuesday night.

With Poly losing at home to Monroe, 74-70, Sylmar (13-8, 8-2 in league play) moved 1 1/2 games ahead of the Parrots (12-7, 7-4) and clinched at least a tie for the championship. Poly has only one game left. The Spartans put five scorers in double figures and blew Canoga Park out in the third quarter, 26-13.

Lamarr Thompson scored 27 points and had 17 rebounds. Joe Guerra added 19, Michael Farmer 12 and Ed Terry and Hector Ibarra 10 each. Marmer also had 14 assists. The Hunters (2-12, 1-9) got 25 points from Ryan Silva.

Monroe 74, Poly 70--Kenyatta Niles scored 26 points, including nine in the fourth quarter, to lead Monroe to a come-from behind victory in the Mid-Valley League game at Poly.

Niles made 10 of 11 free throws in the game, including five of six during the fourth period.

Teammate Shaka Stiner added 19 points for the Vikings (8-12, 5-5), who snapped Poly’s three-game winning streak.

Darrin Drew led the Parrots (12-7, 7-4) with 21 points and Jaime Cerna added 17.

Grant 92, Sherman Oaks CES 80--The Knights scored 20 points in the first eight minutes and still trailed by 16 points in this shootout and fell to 5-12, 1-9 in the Valley Pac-8 Conference.

Grant (17-4, 8-1), which was 15 of 18 from the floor in the first quarter, was led by brothers Ron (28) and Don Patterson, who combined for 43 points. Alvin Castro added 18.

Four Sherman Oaks players scored in double figures: Oscar Castillo (19), Arthur Rodgers (17), Jeff Cannon (14) and Geoff Nishimoto (14).

Reseda 84, El Camino Real 74--Sophomore forward Allison Carter came off the bench to score 11 points in the second quarter and lead Reseda in a North Valley League finale at Taft.

Damon Bailey led Reseda (17-1, 5-1) with 19 points and 13 assists while teammate Roderick Jones added 16 points. Charles Adams scored 40 points for El Camino Real (5-9, 0-6).

San Fernando 64, Granada Hills 63--Jerome Elliott’s free throw with 12 seconds left in overtime provided the margin of victory for the Tigers (11-9, 3-3) in a North Valley League finale at San Fernando. Elliott scored 29 points for San Fernando, which clinched second place.

North Hollywood 87, Van Nuys 51--Arthur Lee scored 25 points and Fantasia Johnson added 17 points and seven assists for host North Hollywood in the Valley Pac-8 Conference game.

Damon Ollie, who had 10 rebounds, was held to a season-low six points for the Huskies, winners of nine games in a row.

Verdugo Hills 78, Hollywood 48--Chan Cornish led the rout with 21 points, 20 rebounds and six assists. Brian De Los Reyes had 25 points for the Dons (6-12, 4-8).

GIRLS’ BASKETBALL

North Hollywood 62, Van Nuys 47--Anna Celaya scored 24 points against Van Nuys (8-7, 6-3) in a Mid-Valley League game to help the Huskies (13-6, 9-0) clinch their ninth league title in 10 seasons.

North Hollywood’s Darvena Merritt scored 18 points and grabbed 13 rebounds.

Monroe 50, Poly 44--Dimara Haymond had 19 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Vikings in a Valley Pac-8 Conference game at Poly (8-12, 5-6). Anna Marquez added 11 points and 10 rebounds for Monroe (13-7, 7-3). Dora Lopez led Poly with 14 points.